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3.5 Weeks in Europe with no luggage

Early next year, Husband and I are heading to 6 European countries in 18 days and are thinking of not carrying luggage to avoid wasting time in the airports.

Are there tips you can share on how to go about only having a carry-on? Husband thinks we should buy those honking backpacks but I personally think those bags are better suited for camping not in a Eurotrip - I dunno. Perhaps because the bags are almost 4 feet tall????

Determine what the currently-mandated size of carry-on bag is and stick to it. Something 4 feet tall will NOT be allowed as a carry-on. I use a duffle bag with zippered expandable ends so if I do need extra room I have it, but at the same time I can keep it small for conveniently carrying on a plane. It's a challenge to narrow down what you bring with you but if you pack it in the smaller configuration you'll always be "legal".

How will you be traveling? Unless you are flying on low cost carriers, there is no need to worry about the size of the bag other than if you wish to carry it.
I use a backpack because I go to small towns without a car, and I rarely have the time to wait if my bag is delayed (experienced it once--DH's bag was flown over to our island on a helicopter!). I do not use a large frame backpack--mine is soft sided but with support and is about the same measurements as a legal carry-on would be (45 linear inches). Mine, made by Osprey, has a flap where you can store the straps and use it as a duffel bag, a nice feature I think.
There are hundreds of discussion of this here, but it all comes down to the specifics of your travel plans and your personal preference.

You cannot take a 4' back pack on the plane with you. I fyouplan ondoing this you need to check on the regs of all airlines you will be flying on and be sure they fit.

I flown to and fro Switz quite a bit in the last few years to see a client and on the trip back to the US on local airlines the US size carry-on isn't even allowed - you must have one that is no more than 19" - including handle and wheels. Have seen many US travelers have to gate check their US legal carry-on - that was 21" or 22".

You can't just haul anything on the plane because it's a "back pack" versus a "suitcase" - it's the SIZE that matters.

As for tips -

Take dark colors so don't show the dirt
Limit yourself to 2 pairs of shoes - the larger/heavier worn on the plane
Assume you will do a lot of laundry
Make sure whatever you get is either easy to pull (sturdy wheels) or comfy to carry (no way would I make myself into a Sherpa)

I'm with Dukey1--I'd rather carry a lot more underwear and socks than to have to spend time finding a Laundromat and doing laundry every other day or so. That dwarfs the few extra minutes in the airport waiting for the bags to come off the carousel. I think it's sort of fun to watch the people retrieving their bags and to have my anxiety relieved when ours finally show up.

I guess I don't see why a person on an 18 day trip would be doing "a lot" of laundry unless it's high summer and you're getting seriously sweaty. I don't wash my sweaters or jeans often at all, even at home. If you're staying in proper hotels, you use the laundry service and waste no time at all. If all you're laundering is underwear socks and a couple of t-shirts, it won't even cost that much.

But nyt is right, determine the size of carryon that is allowed by the carriers you plan to use, which will be the 19"; and buy one, from Zappos perhaps, so you can return it for free, and see what you can put in it. If it works, great, opa, you're off to the races! (You will be able to bring two bags each on board, one that will fit under the seat in front of you, and one in the overhead.)

Airports are not the only place you have to deal with the consequence of large/heavy luggage. Every time you move luggage, any transportation, checking into hotels without elevators, getting to a hotel requiring hauling luggage because the uneven cobble stones making your fist size luggage wheels useless, etc.
Laundry can be a burden if you choose to make it that way. If you have chosen relevant fabric, they can be washed and rinsed in minute in the hotel room sink or shower and be dry by the time you wake up in the morning allowing to pack them or hang them in the room closet in time for the breakfast. You have to make trade-offs, if you don't want to deal with laundry because "it is a vacation" , then deal with the consequence of hauling items no longer usable until you get home.
Packing is a long-tail event. There are items people take at the tail end of usage pattern - used for just one time for few hours, if at all. They can be a space/weight hog. You would become more aware of how you use your items, which items can be used for multiple purposes, and which items have "acceptable" substitutes to eliminate "best" but rarely used bulky/heavy items.

Thanks everyone for all the tips. Also got a tip from a co-worker today. She said maybe try to wear layers and layers of clothes while you're in the airport and then just take them all off when you're on the plane. Smart! Has anybody been caught pulling a stunt like this one?

We always travel carry-on only. When we went to Iceland for 2 weeks, meeting the weight requirement was a challenge. I think it was 13 pounds (or something around that). I did put on my coat which is roomy and was carrying DHs camera lenses, one in each pocket. He wore one of those Scotte vests and had several things in the pockets. It went smoothly and was not much trouble. Good luck!

Depends on how ridiculous you get about it. Certainly wearing a few layers - eg a tee shirt, a thin sweater, a thicker sweater and a light jacket is OK. In fact you WANT to be using layers so you can adjust what you need rather than have for example three different thickness sweaters. But no, I wouldn't be putting on three pairs of jeans or something stupid like that.

You can also put small heavy items in your pockets - like phone, camera, tablet, etc. (helps to have a jacket, even if it's light weight windbreaker type, with big pockets). Because it's not just the SIZE of your bag, it's also the weight. But all airlines have this information on their websites. The strictest may be 19" but many are 20 or even 21 but that includes handles and wheels - not every bag you can buy that is labeled 'carry-on' meets the restrictions of every airline. You can get some that are ultra light weight.

But based on your other thread and the itinerary you are having I would definitely urge you to go carry on only. Most airlines allow one 'carry-on' bag PLUS one 'personal item' (again, go to the airline web site and see the size and weights - often the personal item is not weighed, that's where I put my electronics and heavy items). Easyjet is an exception - they allow ONE carry-on - if you have a purse or laptop bag, etc it much go INSIDE the 'carry-on'.

There are MANY threads here on packing light and carry on only. Type 'carry on only' into the search function at the top of the page. Hundreds of tips.

I know from your other posts you are taking some inter europeon flights.. they tend to be very strict on carry on size and weight.
Yes,, my husband did see a young man in Berlin airport.. his bag was overweight and he did in fact start pulling on clothes in layers over his clothes.. not recommended idea though.. lol

Also note.. some airlines say ONE carry on they mean ONE,, not one carry on suitcase AND a purse or camera bag.. so I advise you to read CAREFULLY all the luggage rules on each airline you are taking. Having to pay for a checked bag at the airport is more expensive then prepaying for one .
I have no trouble travelling for 2 -3 weeks with one small carry on.

I find it takes me all of 5 minutes to wash some socks and undies in a sink,, not sure how some people find that so time consuming..

These are the two suitcases we use for our two months in Europe. They are carry-ons on large airplanes, such as flying from coast-to-coast or across the Atlantic, but it is not clear that low cost airlines such as Ryanair and Easyjet would accept them as carry-ons.

This person will have NO time to do laundry, and barely enough time to rinsed things out in the sink in order for it to dry before she has to be off to the airport for their next 1.5 day city visit.
Yes, OP, you can travel in a 22" carryon with wheels. Not a backpack, which has to GO on your back.

I travel often for two weeks or more, and I almost never take luggage that isn't carry-on size. That doesn't mean that I never check it, because if I have layovers, I don't like to lug even a small bag around the airports en route.

My favorite configuration is a small, squarish roller bag that will fit under the airline seats, with either a large purse, or a small day pack or duffel, that will perch on top of it. I have one small duffel that has a band for fitting over the roller handles, so it doesn't fall off as I'm rushing around.

With this combination, I can go for two weeks without doing laundry. In the winter, I wear slacks three or four times, and tops at least twice, often three times. In the summer, I need more clothing, but it's lighter and takes up less space. I make sure that everything matches everything else, and that especially the slacks are in neutral colors that will go with everything.

There are lots of tricks for the actual packing. Some people say to roll everything, but I find that a combination of rolling and folding works best.

I start with the slacks, in the following manner: I lay the slacks across the bottom of the empty suitcase, in a sort of U shape, with the waistband along the left end, as high as the side of the suitcase, then fit along the bottom, up the opposite side, and the legs hanging out. The next pair of slacks is laid out the same way, but on the opposite side, with the legs hanging out the other side.

I then roll all the knit tops and lightweight sweaters, and line them up on top of the slacks. (You have to be careful when rolling things not to roll creases into them.) I pack these in tight, putting some crosswise to fill space. Then, I stuff underwear and socks into any little spaces that remain. On top of this, I put any woven shirts that I'm taking, folded nicely, and an extra sweater in the winter. In the summer, I usually take just one, and wear it on the plane. The final step is to fold the legs of the slacks over the other clothing, tucking the ends down the opposite side if necessary. This makes a nice neat bundle and the slacks don't get creased.

In the other little bag, duffel or whatever, I put an extra pair of shoes, sometimes two pairs, as well as some of the socks and underwear. (Stuff socks into the shoes, which saves space and protects the shape of the shoes.) I also put at least one spare top, my toiletries (which are minimal), medicines, and pajamas (rolled up tight). This way, even if I check the suitcase, I have the essentials to last me a few days if the suitcase goes astray. If I'm planning to carry on both bags, my normal, smaller, shoulder bag has to go in here, too.

I usually take a 7-inch tablet (Nexus 7) with me, as well as a charger or two, small camera, and extra battery. These fit into an outside pocket, either of the suitcase or of the duffel bag. This way, they're handy for airport security. I don't take my DSLR camera unless we'll be mostly staying in one place, or traveling entirely by car, when it's not so important to travel light. I also take one good guide book, and maybe some pages ripped out of other guide books. Other reading material is on my tablet, where I have a Kindle app.

Since both my pieces of luggage are small, I can easily carry them up stairs, one in each hand, and lift them into the overhead compartment on the plane or train. I don't have to worry about all the overhead bins being occupied, because the larger of my bags will actually go under the seat in front of me, if necessary, and there's always room for a little duffel bag in the overhead bins.

On a recent trip to Scotland and northern England, I had to do laundry three days before the end of the trip. This is the first time I've done laundry en route in over fifteen years, and it was only necessary because it was unusually hot this past June, and I hadn't brought enough summer-weight clothing, and too much heavier clothing and rain gear. I brought my square roller bag and a large purse, and my husband brought a spinner of about the same volume, and a very small day pack. We had several things we never wore because they were too heavy for the temperatures we experienced. (It was hotter in Scotland than it was at home in Italy!) Our luggage was all within Ryanair's strict limits for carryon luggage, some of the most rigid in the industry.

I wouldn't sweat it about the laundry. If you go to a laundromat every five days, then that's only three times during your trip. It makes for some nice downtime, which everyone needs on even the fastest paced trip. Just pencil 'laundry' into your itinerary every five days.

Including the stuff you wear, you need five changes of sox and undies and short sleeved tops (over which you can wear a long sleeved overshirt and/or sweater, cardigan, etc.); you can handwash the stuff you wear to the laundromat. At the laundromat, after you've figured out the directions for machine use (part and parcel of learning how to travel) one of you babysits the clothes, the other shops for picnic stuff, or whatever; then you can switch if you want, or munch a sandwich in the laundromat, catch up on your journal, write postcards, organize your photos, collect your thoughts about what you'll do the remainder of the day, etc. etc. We've done this dozens of times, literally. When no laundromat is readily available we've even thrown everything in the hotel room bathtub and agitated it with our feet, grape-squishing style, and dried it partly by air, partly with a hairdryer. Laundry is simply not an issue.

By the way, we check our rollaboards and only take on a daypack apiece with essentials. Regardless, assume that if the plane is full, overhead bin space will be heavily subscribed.

Thank you for all the tips and suggestions especially to bvlenci, nytraveler, adrienne, isabel, greg, dwdvagamundo, AnaBelen, justineparis and many others!

Lots of great tips! I'm learning a lot from this community!

There are some whose comments sound like we just made a huge mistake planning this trip. Maybe.. you are right. But then again, it's not like we're going to war right? I'd rather be optimistic and atleast enjoy the madness!

I recently returned from a 17 day trip to Europe with the ebags Motherlode mentioned by sparkchaser as my only luggage. For help with planning I would recommend onebag.com and snarkynomad.com for excellent tips regarding packing lists and gear. You will do laundry, but it will all be in your bathroom sink or shower (10 minutes per night tops). This will require some attention to the fabrics you choose (quick dry shorts and pants, merino wool socks, poly shirts, Airism undies, etc) and is clearly not for everyone. But, with no waiting for checked bags, no pulling bags up metro stairs, etc I am glad I made the switch. I am not a backpacker, but the weight was totally manageable for me. We took 3 flights in Europe on Adria, InterSky and EasyJet and the bag fit in the overhead compartment with no issues.
Do your homework and determine if this is the way to go for you.

I think it is gross that people wear their clothes more than once without washing them. I don't do that at home and I certainly would not do that when travelling, Washing clothes in a hotel sink is also gross, laundromats are not clean. I have read threads where posters are discussing washing their clothes with shampoo. Now I read about washing clothes in a hotel bath and "agitated it with our feet, grape-squishing style, and dried it partly by air, partly with a hairdryer." Sounds like something a university student would do in a cheap hostel. I would rather pay for excess baggage so I could have clean clothes at minimum on a daily basis than perform these rituals and waste any vacation time in a laundromat.

<I think it is gross that people wear their clothes more than once without washing them. >
You are clearly a germaphobe, which is a handicap for which I pity you, because you spend time and money assuaging baseless anxieties. I, on the other hand, skip blithely across continents in the selfsame sweater, secure in the knowledge that a touch of BO never hurt anyone.

@Judy - if it's cheap enough- will toss it. Although this option might be the least likely as I have learned a great deal from the replies -- We might do the layer thing to a point, and then pack clothes but do a little bit of laundry in the hotel washroom @ night then if the AC is clean enough, hang it there to dry.

Odin.. wow.. you seriously have issues.. my condolences. I doubt you look better groomed them me ,, I doubt you have better health.. but boy.. you must have higher anxiety.

Just out of picking a scab curiosity.. do you really wash a pair of jeans each time you wash them?? I can't imagine my body being filthy enough that I would need to do that.. lol

And washing clothes in sinks is gross?? Why? I have used hotel shampoo myself.. but a few years ago discovered a product called Forever New.. get it in the lingerie departments at stores. Its a very concentrated powder so easy to pack in carry on.. washes clothes with minimal agitating,, and rinces out easily. .

<< Yes some hotels we're staying at are cheap. Most of them are under $200 a night. >>

OK...you and I have a different definition of cheap. $200 per night is expensive to me. I don't think I've ever paid that much for a hotel room in Europe. You'll get soap and shampoo for that price, except perhaps in apartments.

DebitNM - I can't believe that Purex is no longer making these sheets. They're wonderful. I'm glad I have most of my large box that I bought in a local supermarket.

About that layering thing. Once you get off the plane, you still have to carry all those layers or put them somewhere. And not a lot of room on the plane to stash them unless you are flying in the front seats.
We check bags. Rarely have we waited all that long for luggage. But IF you are taking budget airlines, you will have to pack small and light.

I don't pack ridiculous amounts, but I've tried both carry-on and checked luggage, and I prefer checked luggage, although I'll do carry-on for sufficient cost savings or a compelling itinerary reason. I like not having to think too hard about an extra pair or two of shoes, having machine-laundered/dried underwear and socks for the duration of my trip, being able to wear two different outfits in a day without concern, and so on. I have also used laundromats in Europe, and enjoyed the experience. I know some people are fine with wearing the same shirt 4x without washing, but for me that's a bad idea.

Even if using a mainline carrier in Europe, the luggage restrictions can be quite strict. For intra-European flights, I never tried to do carry-on only, even if I did it on my flight over, because the restrictions are just too difficult, and the penalty for failing at the airport is too great.

I have some favorite clothes that I keep wearing even if they have more than past their expected living time and often a trip is an excuse to me to finally say good bye.

For example on a 4 weeks trip a while ago, I finally left behind 4 T-shirts and a jacket I was very fond of. While at middle of the trip, I asked hotel stuff if anyone would like them or if a charity organisation would accept them. One person seemed to like my jacket so I gave it to her straight away and I left T-shirts with front office staff. I told them if no one wanted them, feel free to throw them away or rip them in pieces and give to housekeeping so they can use as dust-clothes or something.

I often pack a combination of new and old underwear too. I wear old underwear on start of the trip and simply throw away after use. This way I avoid doing laudry very often and I allow space on my bags to buy some souvenirs or new items or simply I enjoy traveling even lighter.

Leaving clothes reminds me of my first trip to Europe--6 weeks, partially cycling, small canvas bag--and before the "miracle fabrics". Near the end of the trip I had finally had enough of a skirt and left it in the room. BUT one of my very thoughtful comrades on the trip had retrieved it for me to return it!!

I wouldn't wear anything on a trip that was on the point of being thrown away, but maybe I wear my clothing a lot longer than some of you. I still have some things that I brought with me from the US 16 years ago. Lots of people who have visited me here in Italy have discarded luggage and all its contents at my house, just because they're sick of carrying it around. (Another arguement for packing light.) I've rescued some of it myself, especially the luggage, and given the rest to the local Caritas.

When I was a child, only Lady Macbeth took a shower every day, and very few people changed their clothing every day. Women wore some sort of underarm protector so that their blouses didn't get stinky. If we want to save the earth with a livable climate, we're going to have to rethink this manic cleanliness.

In February, the clothing you'd be wearing could take days to dry, and you're planning to move very often. The only thing I would count on washing in the sink at the hotel is underwear and maybe socks (if they're not heavy). After washing them, place them on a towel, and then twist the towel very tightly to wring all the moisture out of them. At that point, they should dry overnight, especially if you put them near the source of heat in your room.

I agree with Adrienne that $200 a night is not what I call a cheap room. However, I disagree with her on another point. Even the cheapest hotels I've stayed in have some sort of soap and shampoo. Sometimes it's an all-purpose liquid soap/shampoo in a dispenser in the shower, and next to the sink. I've used it both as shampoo (not the best, but OK) and bath gel, and also to wash some underwear in the sink. Sometimes I carry a very small plastic bottle of shampoo in my "toiletries" bag, which is a zip-lock plastic bag that I also use for my liquids bag for airport security.

The only toiletries I usually carry are small (less than 100 ml) amounts of shampoo, all-purpose hand/face cream, and little sizes of travel deodorant and toothpaste. I sometimes carry a small camping salt shaker, with a lid, into which I put some talcum powder. Traveling light has made me realize that a lot of the products I used to use at home are pretty useless, so I don't use them at home now, either.

Buying detergent can be quite cheap. When you're ready to wash a few clothes, just run down to the nearest shop, buy some detergent, soak in the sink (or the empty garbage can), handwash and then hang it up on the towel rack. Just remember, depending on the fabric, clothes take between 8 - 24 hours to dry.

I broke in the brand new washing machine at the Hilton last week in Portsmouth. Four dollars and we had clean clothes. I had brought a dryer sheet and we get those great little pods for the machine that we take. Shampoo in the sink for my undies. You all are so finicky, wash quick dry shirts out, roll them in a towel to rid of extra moisture and they are dry in the morning. I love Italy because everywhere you stay they have drying racks inside and out.
I use public transportation and don't want a suitcase I can't drag on and off the train or carry up and down the stairs alone.

Our plan to wash clothes each night died a quick death. Our first night in France I was really tired and let it go. So the second night I had two days' worth of clothes to wash, and that's when I realized how small the sink was (and that has been true wherever we've stayed). I had to wash in six batches. The only place to hang things was on the shower rail, so things dripped all over the floor. The next morning none of it was even close to dry, not even the lightest things.

We've learned to enjoy our laundromat stops and do as suexxyy suggests. We talk to people, take turns strolling around outside, read, email. European washers and driers take much more time so we do try to minimize the number of laundry stops. We do laundry when we're wearing our last clean outfit.

I long ago solved the problem of packing light in winter by investing in several pairs of silk long johns from Winter Silks.

I am a road warrior and I never do laundry on trips through Europe and I only pack carryon. I pack all the underwear and socks I need for a daily change. But other than that I pack two trousers (1 nice enough for dinner) and about 4 tops. Wearing long johns really eliminates the need to pack bulky sweaters. Silk long johns will dry overnight when washed out in the sink (I use hotel shampoo or hotel bar soap.) So I just rotate my clothes.

In winter I travel wearing comfortable boots that are nice enough to also wear to dinner. I will admit that since I am wearing boots and trousers I often pack mismatched socks that I throw away as I go along. Socks generally will not dry overnight so were I go for 18 nights I would pack 20 pairs of socks.

Of course I also wear an overcoat, wool scarf, hat and gloves and I am extremely fond of a zip up fleece vest I bought years ago. It really travels well through different climate zones. In Rome or Lisbon I can walk around with just the vest sometimes during the day. But in someplace like Paris, I can put on the vest and my coat over it and be very warm for sightseeing outdoors.

I meant to add that I think a soft sided regulation sized backpack is much preferable to a carryon you need to carry. Usually wheeled carryons are too heavy (because of the wheels) for budget airlines so a backpack is nice and has nice compartments. Just make sure it is the right size for a carryon.

Also, in case it wasn't clear, I pack 2 trousers but I am of course also wearing a fresh clean pair to the airport! So I have 3 for travel for a 2.5 week trip. I never wear the same pair 2 days in a row.

In winter in Europe, everybody on the street is so bundled up you can forget about being a fashion plate. Pack your favorite durable basics.

We did 30 days in Europe with just a duffel bag each, plus a small tote bag that I carry (Baggallini). We washed our underwear in the hotel (carried travel packs of Tide) and sent the pants out to the hotel laundry or, on one occasion, used a laundromat, which was an interesting experience because it was so different from ours.

We buy Travelsmith and Ex Officio underwear because they dry fast. We stick with basic colors (black, gray, navy) and complementary tops. We pack in ebags packing cubes. My bag is an ebags Motherlode rolling duffel and DH carries a Tumi duffel. I always come home with clothes that I didn't need--even when we've gone on cruises. The key is to not think that you have to have a big wardrobe. You're never going to see these people again so just take some basics.

For cold weather travel, I also take several lightweight silk long john tops from Wintersilks. They have some deep V and deep scoop necks so they go under clothes well. Those and a couple of cashmere sweaters will get you through may days. Add a nice scarf and you look good too. I also have a couple of synthetic T shirts from Mountain Hardwear that dry really fast. They don't feel as comfy as the silk shirts but dry in no time at all.

I have one tip to add for laundry. Magellan sells little sheets of laundry soap in a compact for travel. Works well and takes up no room at all. Also, someone mentioned twisting things up in a towel to dry them. I roll them up in a towel and then "walk" on the roll to press the moisture out. It works really well.

Sandralist mentioned socks. Especially in winter (light weight wool socks work just fine in the summer, too), I recommend wool socks. They can easily be worn mutliple times without stinking. Plus, they're durable and warm in the winter, yet wicking in the summer.

This thread is endlessly entertaining. I think some travelers are much more careful than I am. I want my body to be sparkling clean and fresh every day, but with my clothes, it's another story.

I will wear tops and pants two or three days until they look baggy or soiled. My undies and socks I change every day, but they don't take up much room. I do wash undies and socks in the sink, but only when I will be in the same room for at least two days. If the item is a bit heavy, I will squeeze it out with a towel.

For me, it's worth the cost to have the hotel wash or clean heavier things, as long as I'm staying at the same place for several days, which is almost always the case for me.

I can't imagine doing the kind of trip the OP is planning. I tend to spend two or three weeks in one country, and at least two nights in a city. but more like three or four nights.

I almost always check my bag. Only once in the past 40 years of traveling has my bag failed to arrive on time, (though maybe that's because I usually fly internationally only once a year.) The late bag occurred when I did the first leg with Alaska and the second leg with Lufthansa. I'd done a similar trip the year before--Alaska, Lufthansa, Air Berlin--and my bag had arrived on time.

Those of us who'd flown first with Alaska didn't get out luggage on time. Lufthansa did deliver the luggage two days later.

Endlessly amusing, someone who never wears anything more than once without washing it. Gads, that's pretty OCD. Even silk shirts and corduroy or polyester pants? One does bathe, I would hope. And you aren't out plowing the back forty that you should get that sweaty. There was a recent news article about how you aren't supposed to wash your jeans very often at all, and some famous people were quoted as to going really long between washings.

I am in agreement with the concept of washing things out in hotel sinks, and am baffled when people say they do that. Underwear, of course, but they say they wash everything in the sink. Which is pretty impossible in the hotels I stay at, the sinks are too small. And they talk about "rinsing out" things. Sorry, rising doesn't cut it, you need soap.

But there's no magic act here, you just have to be willing to take only a few clothes, it's that simple, a few tops and a couple pairs of pants and a skirt, maybe, plus the undies and socks and very few shoes. I can't do it but don't really care.

But just find out the limitations on the plane and get a suitcase that will pass (and not many really do if they want to measure it, my 22" doesn't pass when it is full due to the thickness limits which are very low nowadays. You'd have to pack a 22" bag not even full so that the top can be slightly indented to pass the limits, unless you buy a bag with different than the usual dimensions. SOme airlines only have total linear but others specify each direction, and those are the problem. Many limit carryons to 22X14X9 inches, and it's the 9 inches which is hard to meet if your bag is packed full.

YOu wouldn't be allowed on any airline with a large backpack because it violates size limits, the husband doesn't know what he's talking about. It's the size that matters, not whether it is a backpack or other type of luggage.

OK - hope this doesn't get buried in all the wardrobe/luggage/laundry discussion (I personally always travel w/just a carry on sized roller bag -- mostly carry it on, sometimes check it . . . but always the same size whether it is a 3 day trip or a 3 week trip)

BUT -- you say the Victoria Apartments and you want to change the booking. What is the actual name of the flat or agency? Is it the "Victoria Apartments" - or just an apartment near Victoria? Provide a link if you can.

And why do you want to change it? Victoria is a very central/convenient location w/ direct coach connections from Stansted where you are flying into.

Quick note. La Canadienne makes the very best waterproof shoes and boots I have ever owned. A couple of pair of mine are at least 10 years ok and still look great. incredibly comfortable as well. Expensive but not when you figure out cost per use.

You are only in London a few nights, so may book a traditional hotel - that place looks like a dump. I don't live/die by trip advisor reviews but if I see one where there are NO excellent and more terrible than good rankings . . . I'd run. Hopefully you didn't book a prepaid non refundable stay.

@janisj - Yeah,it is cancellable. Some of their pictures aren't that bad but yeah, some say it's a horrible place to be in but for $166 a day for a studio it will be a lot bigger than a traditional with double bed.

I travel for pleasure almost exclusive in the late fall or early spring because I dislike hot weather and the summer vacation crowd, and have traveled with a 19-inch rucksack for 10+ days of trips, plus an empty daypack that I use as a "purse" and also as extra storage if I want to bring back souvenir. In addition to what I wear onto the plane, I pack 5 days of underwear (including thin thermal t-shirts that I wear as baselayer and sleepwear and change everyday) and socks, 2 button-down shirts, a pair of pants, and a pair of flip-flops or flats (not both). I don't handwash but go to the laundromat every 5 days. I don't mind using the laundromat and enjoy people-watching or go on Facebook while waiting.
Regarding the Purex sheets, the alternative I am using are the laundry detergent pods, however not the liquid ones, but ones filled with powder. I get the Ajax brand from my local store but I'm sure there are others.

If you mean CAN$166 -- that is only about £90 which is low for London.

Your best bet is likely Travelodge. There are MANY all over central London and there are often deals from £35-ish to £75 or so (some locations like Covent Garden seldom have rates under £100 but sometimes)

Plug London and your dates in here and see what you can find rate-wise. Then ask here before booking - since there are so many London properties, not all are in the best locations but some are in really terrific areas.

While on a limited budget a few years ago I spent about 2 weeks in London end of January/start of February, choosing Victoria area for convenience and affordable accommodation.

Luna&Simone was a decent functional B&B in walking distance from Victoria station and a bus heading to Trafalgar Square direction stopped exactly in front of the hotel. I think I e-mailed hotel and asked a deal for long stay and they offered maybe ~5GBP less per night than the usual rate, but I paid only about 60 GBP/night traveling alone. A double might be within your budget(or not, as I think they have made a renovation since then. Still it doesn't heart to e-mail and ask an early booking deal or something).

The weather can turn "warm" any place in February but Rome will not be warm. It's about the same latitude as Newark, NJ which can see some warmish days in February but that's relative. I've seen women wear winter coats in April in Rome.

February is still winter, and it's still the rainy season, and it can be damp which means it will feel cold. I'd take the boots.

A lot of Italians wear winter coats by the calendar, not by the thermometer. You can't compare the climate here to that in New Jersey. It's entirely different. In Rome, the temperature doesn't often go below freezing, and almost never all day long. Snow is very rare. I wouldn't think you'd ever need a winter coat there. I seem to remember that your trip is in February, and in Rome it could sometimes be full spring by then.

When I go to Rome in the winter, I wear a spring-or-autumn weight jacket and take a wool sweater to wear under it if necessary. In fact, that's what I'd use for the entire trip if I were you. With your many destinations, you don't want to have to take two coats. The outer jacket can be layered up with sweaters; and a warm hat, scarf, and gloves will make it work everywhere.

I also wouldn't want boots for a trip like this, but I find boots, even light-weight ones, too heavy and hot indoors; they might be all right for a walk around the city but if I went into a museum wearing them, I'd be dying in half an hour. A good pair of walking shoes with and wool socks would be more versatile, in my opinion.

Honestly - All this about washing in the sink or tub. You can afford to go to Europe, pay $1000 a piece for flights as well as $200+ a night for the hotel. You can afford to have your laundry done. Who wants wet laundry hanging about or spending the time and effort to wash it?

Please, avail yourself of the concierge or front desk clerk, who keeps a discreet list of local women who will pick up, wash your clothes and return them the next day, folded and pressed. We have never paid more than $30 to have this done.

Warm is a relative term. I didn't think Rome was warm in April. I thought the weather was pleasant for me but not warm. That's why I asked where the OP lives. Warm to me is bordering on hot - about 70 degrees F.

According to most weather sites.. weather in Rome will not be warm in Feb.. unless you consider 8-9 C degrees warm. That's not cold.. but its certainly not warm.

Have you googled weather averages for your dates of travel , very easy to do .

Remember.. its not warm tropical year round in south of Europe.. many people seem to think that its always beach weather in the south.. but its most definitely not, some of the greek islands basically close down from November to April-May.

Back to your original question, you need to figure out what kind of bags you will use. You need to check with the specific airlines you will be flying and find out their dimension and weight regulation... then make sure your bag fits those.

As mentioned by a few, if you can go with a soft bag like a duffle bag, it will weigh less empty than a roller suitcase (because the handle, frames, wheels, all add weight and size) then you'll have room for more clothes.

No don't try to layer all your clothing on your body. Sorry but that's just silly. DO be ready to wear the same (outer) clothes *without washing* over and over again.

Everybody had great suggestions. We did a 16 transatlantic with 2 more weeks on land with one carryon each. We are leaving next month for a 18 day Med/Adriatic cruise with 5 extra land days.

Simply--wear my heaviest footwear on plane (sneakers)for very rough streets, bring a pair of good sturdy sandals with straps and $1 flip flops for ship. Since chances of rain are good for this trip bringing rain shoe covers (the sandals fit and as they have no toe separator, could wear socks if cold and wet). Wearing jeans and LS tee with patterned jacket on plane and bringing 3 SL tees and cullotes that go with jacket and tees.

Bringing a shawl for dinner wrap. We do fancy dining or any night activities for dressy clothes. One pair of shorts for boat that'll go with the tees. Temps will be about 55-70 and I like it cold, so this will be T shirt weather for me.

Hubby bought some sort of nylon Ts and nylon athletic briefs at Walmart. I cut the legs the length of his BVDs. He hand washes. Buy 3 $1 ponchos at dollar store the size of a 3x3 post it pack for rain coverage.

On transatlantic trip as we flew both rynair and aer lingus, they had very restrictive carryon bag requirements and HEFTY fees, so did wear a few extra Ts to make sure bag did not puff out. Took off on board and stuffed in bag.

After transatlantic trip, on return to US, we were the first at Customs and upon exiting, agents thought we had forgotten our checked bags as we just had the carryon.

That is really why we love the cruising for lengthy European trips, we just have to make it on board, and all our personal grooming stuff disappears over the course of the cruise.

We traveled six weeks with a carryon each. I brought a tiny water spray bottle. I would spritz the wrinkles out of the clothes I would wear each day. Just spray and shake. Kept laundry at bay a bit longer. If you are moving often you will definitely appreciate the smaller luggage. Once you travel with a carry on only you will never go back.

It's funny, isn't it, the range of comments that can crop up about laundry. Such a simple task.

You have a great comment on perspective, but using a laundry service isn't always an option for various reasons. The hotel or village doesn't offer the service, or one plans to leave within 24 hours (often 24 hours is the time specified by the service to discharge the contract) or whatever.

Plus: we really don't mind, truly, about doing laundry. As I pointed out, it needn't take one's full attention, one can do other things at the same time. Others' mileage may vary, but we really don't feel doing this task detracts from our vacation in any way.

But I appreciate that people have their own strategies about managing travel wardrobes. There's no one right way to approach this.

Each time I see the title of this post... I keep picturing MsWorthy getting off the plane with only her purse in hand! Truly "no luggage".

I've read about people who do that, travel with almost nothing. Could be an interesting experiment. Closest I've come was 3 wks in Europe one summer with only a gym-bag sized duffle bag & boy was i sick of those clothes before the end of the trip!!

Based from the responses, it seems to me some people like to travel with only carryon, some wants to have their bags checked in All good.

As for us - my husband and I are leaning towards no checked in luggage - maybe only a small duffel bag as carryon for each- and if we need to do laundry eventually, then we will.

I will probably do a couple of layers - maybe I'll wear 3 yoga pants and a fleece sweatshirt under a winter jacket. We'll see how it goes. I'm short and I tend to look very 'thick' with multiple layers of clothing - but this will not stop me unless my husband starts laughing at me for my appearance. ;P

You are going to be very warm and uncomfortable on the plane wearing layers of clothing. Will you be wearing them as you transfer from hotel to hotel, city to city too? Bring a bag big enough to hold your clothes.

PLEASE don't wear 3 pair of yoga pants on the plane
That is just ridiculous. First off you don't need 3 of the same item (one trick to packing light, why do you need more than one pair of "yoga pants") and 2nd... well it's just crazy -haha.

If you want to go carry-on only, find a nice 19-21" roller suitcase and pack only as much of your normal clothing as fits into that. It's really not hard.

And yes $3000 sounds about right. A generic generally accepted rule-of-thumb is $100 per person per day for food, drink, admissions, local transporation, a few souveniers.

I would say you could do this on less than $100/per person/per day (not including hotels and flights), but it is a good figure to keep in mind. Often I spend much less, than "ruin" it by buying a 30-Euro concert ticket (but it would be silly to come all that way and spend all that money and not take advantage of local culture). And of course more is very, very easily possible.

I ALWAYS travel w/ just a carryon sized bag. Sometimes I check it but usually not . . . But never ever do I need more than a 21 inch roll aboard. And I never EVER have to wear multiple layers of pants/sweaters on a flight. You'll just end up looking like a hill billy and be very uncomfortable. Plus you don't need to do anything goofy like that. For one thing, why multi versions of the same garment? One pair of yoga pants (good to wear on the plane), one pair of black slacks (to dress up or down), one pair of jeans . . . And you are good to go. Take all sorts of tops/t's/sweaters but you'd only need the 3 'bottoms' and mix/match/ layer everything else.

Me too, janisj. I completely agree. I'm a big travel light person also. Pick two colors and a few layering pieces. Select a couple of accessories or scarves to dress up/down your outfits. Pick up a beautiful scarf or pashmina in a market and wear it while you are there. You'll love the momento when you return.

I feel the same way about buying a new fragrance one of the first days I'm traveling and they wearing it the rest of the time on my trip. Then, when I wear the fragrance at home, it completely connects me back to the trip experiences. You know what they say about smells connecting you? It totally works for me.

And no, there is no reason to layer three pairs of yoga pants on the plane.

>>I'm short and I tend to look very 'thick' with multiple layers of clothing -<<

Since you are traveling on a budget I don't want to encourage you to start buying unusual or expensive clothes, but since you live in Canada, do you think you could get your hands on a long fleece skirt? They can be marvelously warm if you wear them over warm tights or ski pants (or yoga pants if they are warm). And it creates a longer "line" when it comes to looks, even if you are short (especially if you can find a pencil skirt in fleece).

But any long knit skirt over good leggings or warm pants works really well as "layering." The point of "layering" is not put on a lot of heavy clothes but to create a layer of warm air around your body. (That's how thermal clothes work).

Rather than a fleece sweatshirt, I would try to get a vest of some sort, and make it one that opens in the front (not one that goes over your head and is solid). You are going to be traveling through a few different climate zones. A vest protects your chest but leaves your arms free to be cool and not overheat if you are in a milder climate.

Since you are not traveling until February I would definitely wait until after Christmas to purchase anything. Also, test out the clothes you already have in advance of your trip. Not only try walking around in cold weather wearing your "layers" for longs walks outdoors but also pack a sample carryon suitcase and then try wearing only those clothes for a few weeks (except to work I guess). I think you will discover that you need a lot less clothes than you might think you do right now.

Good lord in heaven, now I have seen it all. How cold need it be for a floor-length fleece skirt over tights to become necessary?? Good for hiking glaciers, perhaps, but not so good for being indoors at all.

Good grief. I live in the Utah mountains at 6800 ft. in a ski town and I have NEVER seen a fleece skirt. Do they make such a thing?

I wear fleece around home (pants and tops) for half the year, but would never be caught dead in fleece pants in public. Park City is VERY casual and I have never seen anyone wearing fleece pants (or a skirt). Ski/board pants, yoga pants, yes.

Don't take the fleece skirt suggestion too seriously, I'm sure she's joking. I'm from Minnesota and it gets pretty cold there too. Don't know a soul who would be caught wearing a fleece skirt. And fleece pants are only for when you're using the snow blower. Next, the OP will be told to get a Snuggie.

Have none of you world travelers ever been to Europe in cold weather and noticed that the cafes have fleece throws on the chairs outside so that people can be comfortable sitting outdoors?

The OP said she was thinking of wearing 3 pairs of yoga pants at the same time to keep warm -- except because she is short, she figured that it might make her look funny enough that her husband would laugh at her for 18 days.

I suggested a fleece pencil skirt -- but since they are often so expensive (they are actually fashion items, folks, with Fendi selling them for $800 plus, although you can find some for under $100 if you dig around) -- I also included a link to a very inexpensive stretch cotton skirt that could be worn over pants or tights would be a better layer than 3 pairs of yoga pants for warmth.

Up to the petite OP what she wants to wear, but if you have never seen fleece skirts in Europe on petite women (or enjoyed wearing them with boots when it is cold) you might not want to display your ignorance so broadly.

Trying not to get into a fashion argument here. But just because something is expensive it doesn't make it a good idea. And a fleece throw is not the same as a fleece skirt. That said, suze, your recommendations made a lot of sense. The only thing I would add to that would possibly be silk underwear. Nothing much beats it. I've been to Europe in the winter, in snow, and honestly it's not the end of the world. And please don't call me ignorant just because I don't agree with you.

<<The OP said she was thinking of wearing 3 pairs of yoga pants at the same time to keep warm>>

NO she did NOT. She said she was considering wearing a bunch of layers *on the plane* in order to maximize the number of items she had with her, and still be able to pack in a small carry-on suitcase. It was never about warmth. At least pay attention if you're going to start insulting people.

ceezee, Sure you could add silk underwear if you're spending a lot of time outdoors or hiking or something. That is an actual packing list from a winter Switzerland trip of mine, but I was only in towns and cities not up in the mountains (which I don't think MsWorthy will be either from her list of destinations).

Yeah, suze, you're right about the silk underwear. Unless I was going to be in bitter cold, way under zero Fahrenheit, I'd skip it. I like hiking and am an outdoorsy person but I don't add them either. Their main draw is they take no space and for a top, they can add a nice layer under a sweater without any bulk.

Ah, janisj.... Thank you for the information about the other name, I now understand.

bvlenci, I am usually too warm so I like to be able to get quickly down to the least amount of clothing. This is what happens when you ar a woman of a certain age. Or someone from Minnesota who likes to feel cold in general.

A lot of us women wear long skirts in winter over tights and knit pants in winter in Europe. Yes, I am serious. It is a great way to pack light if you are traveling in winter because pants are very small and light to pack and you can keep wearing the same skirt without needing to wash it.

I don't think the OP will warm enough in many places wearing yoga pants. She doesn't need to wear a skirt but she needs something more than yoga pants.

I should have typed that tights or knit pants are easy to pack. I would not try to take jeans and cord pants as is being suggested if you are trying to do carry on. And no, I don't think you should wear 3 pairs of yoga pants on the plane. A long skirt would definitely look better ! -- but if you don't like skirts then I do highly recommend some long johns as I said before rather than bulky pants and sweaters. There are not expensive if you buy them on clearance and they are super light and super small in your suitcase.

But now I am going to go change this screen name and create a new ID, so you won't hear from me again as sandralist. It's something I do to drive the biddies on Fodor's crazy. And they think I take things too seriously???

If you feel that you need to keep changing identities in order to be taken seriously, then you should probably rethink your objectives. Usually those of here are just trying to help others. Of course, you might have other objectives.

I am a person who is used to wear jeans trousers all the time and haven't wear a skirt for ages. I would never wear one on a trip, over trousers or not, simply because it is not me and I would feel uncomfortable. And I have been in Poland on winter on -20 degrees and manage fine with my jean trouser, standy walkign shoes and a sort sleeved T-shirt, a long sleeved T-shirt and a sporty thin jacket on top. This doesn't mean it could work for everyone but it worked for me.

I think that feeling comfortable (on all aspects) is important while traveling. It is hard to know what works for each person and I think generic ideas such as "get dressed in layers" or "you will need a piece of cloth which is not bulky but keeps you warm" and the most important "be prepared for lots of walking on uneven terrain and get appropriate shoes" are absolutely fine. Or advice like "More formal dressing is appropriate for X venue so you do not feel out of place" or "Casual clothing is fine roaming the streets of Y and visiting Z attraction".

But I am not sure getting into so much details as of how many pair of underware someone travels with or which brand of shoes he wears are of use. Everyone is different and get dressed differently. The more one travels the more s/he gains experience and sees what works for his/her self, customised on his/her needs and personal dressing style.
I might be wrong but I feel this topic has gone over the top somewhow.

I absolutely love finding out all the little details that can make my trip even better.

The soap flakes or where to find good looking waterproof womens shoes/boots are just a couple of great examples. Finding out what worked for someone else is invaluable. Getting this type of specific information is one of the many reasons these forums are so helpful for me when trip planning.

Of course people wear skirts over tights, that's perfectly normal, but a skirt over pants is completely different. I have never heard of such a thing (except when I was a small child in northern Ohio and we had to walk to school in winter--we had to wear skirts to school back then, and so needed pants for the cold). Now I looked at that photo of the woman in London and it's not really over "pants". Those just look like slouchy tights or leggings, not something you'd wear alone as real pants. But it did look okay, you need a long, full skirt to pull that off.

I think the idea of wearing layers on the plane to be able to take as many clothes as you can which don't fit in your bags doesn't make any sense at all. Think about it -- what are you going to do with all these clothes during your trip if they don't fit in your bag? They won't disappear and you'll need some way to carry them around on your trip. The only thing I wear on a plane that might not fit in my bag if colder weather is some kind of jacket or coat, of course.

I think the OP hasn't thought through the idea of weighing your body down with stuff that you have no other way to carry, to its endpoint. Besides, 3 pairs of yoga pants really doesn't make sense as they'd all be the same thing. You don't need 3 of the same item. And you shouldn't even be able to fit 3 pair of yoga pants on at the same time as they are so slim fitting. So stick with taking only what you can fit in your bag, and one normal outfit you are wearing.

Over the years I've found that for me is... if I don't wear it at home I'm not going to wear it when traveling. So I just try to do my best in figuring out the climate and forecasted temperatures. I do try to pack the lightest weight items that fit that premise. Also keeping in mind things that wash easily if I'm on an extended trip.